Track Season Wrap-Up

This season we enjoyed a dedicated group of guys who at various times of the season enjoyed much success. Starting back in January the bulk of the team began preparing for the competitive season. We were fortunate to add to that group as the winter sports ended. Our team was prepared and began competition at the Bonner Relays where we finished 2nd as a team.

Our strongest performance group this year was our throwers where we had 4 seniors lead the way. Kobe Gibson, Josh Gray, Andre Johnson, and Oganna Oraedu all produced points for the team throughout the season. For much of the season we would place 3 individuals in the top 6 at every meet. Underclassmen in that group were Stephen Christenbury, Marcus Henderson, Dorian Hopkins, and Matthew Rhodes. Gibson (SP) and Oraedu (D) both advanced and medaled at the state meet.

Our field event jump crew was led by senior Jack Heathcott (HJ&PV). Other pole vaulters were Noah Hooper, Eston Pahlow, Dekari Scott and 8th grader Gavin McKay. High Jumpers were Clay Harrison, Jalen Hollimon, and Charlie Rhodes. Our long jumpers were Maurice Hampton, Hollimon, McKay, & Scott. In the triple jump Hollimon was our top jumper during the season but was joined by Dorian Hopkins late in the year and both advanced and medaled at the state meet.
Jack Heathcott and Raegan Griffin were our consistent hurdlers with Heathcott winning several home meets during the season.

In the sprints our two best times for both the 100 & 200 were run by senior Jalon Love and 10th grader Maurice Hampton. Joining those two during the year was senior Bradley Foley along with Tide Faleye, & Ben Gilliland to form our 4x100 and 4x200 relay teams. For the region we lined up with Hampton-Faleye-Foley-Love for the 4x100 and Hampton-B Gilliland –C Gilliland-Love for the 4x200 and both teams qualified for state with the 4x200 team coming in 3rd. We never really found a top 400 person this year but during the season we had senior Alex Robinson and Ben Gilliland run some good times. For the region meet we got Sellers Shy to do double duty with lacrosse and run the opening leg of the 4x400. He teamed up with Hollimon, Heathcott, and C Gilliland to advance to the state meet. At the state meet Hampton subbed in for Gilliland and we finished 4th.

The distance events this year were not our strength. Senior Charlie Gilliland did have a great year running the 800 where he finished 2nd in the region and then wowed us all with his effort to win the State Championship. We did have 2 underclassmen; Peter Raves & Alex Warr who improved throughout the season and showed signs they would be strong competitors in the coming years.
We had 2 entries into the decathlon and both did surprisingly well. 8th grader Gavin McKay finished 6th place at the region and 10th grader Dorian Hopkins, the most unlikely decathlete I think I have ever coached, did respectfully with absolutely no preparation for the events. Both of these two did a great job.

While as a team we did not fare as well at the region and state meet as usual I did fell like the boys competed well. Our division had some very competitive athletes in the areas we were strongest so we adjusted some of our plans to give us the best chance to advance. Special thanks to Maurice Hampton and Sellers Shy for being key contributors at the meets while spending the bulk of their time at baseball & lacrosse. The highlight of the season was of course the state championship earned by Charlie Gilliland in the 800 meter run. Charlie has earned relay gold medals as an underclassman but it was great to see him at the top of the awards stand his senior season. That along with his excellent leadership and performance throughout the year earns him the Robert Hussey Track Most Outstanding Award for 2017.

I am blessed to have a great group of coaches work with the boys throughout the year:
Jonas Holdeman – Distance, High Jump
Johnny Jones – Throws
Meredith McFarland – Distance, Lower School
Orlando McKay – Sprinters, Long Jump, Triple Jump
Glenn Rogers – Lower School
Joe Tyler – Distance
These guys along with Dax Torrey (FAT operator) David Ferebee (Trainer and Clerk) and Matt Bakke (Clerk) help us run excellent track meets throughout the season. So long for 2017, see you back next spring!
Coach Alston
 
For Complete season results visit http://tn.milesplit.com/
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Memphis University School

6191 Park Avenue  |  Memphis, TN 38119  |  Main: (901) 260-1300